The Importance of Healthy Eating - Essay Example

The Importance of Healthy Eating along with a Proper Diet an Exercise Introduction Obesity continues to be a health problem for children, adolescenceand the adults around the world. It is the condition in which excess body fat has accumulated in the body to the extent that it has adverse effects on the health; this reduces the life expectancy of the individual. Overweight or obesity is determined by using weight and height and calculating the body mass index (BMI). Obesity usually starts at childhood and increases with the age. There are methods, that not only can reverse obesity and make a person healthier and more fit, but can increase the lifespan of a person, and that is to eat and stick with a healthy diet. As the problem starts at young age it is best to overcome it at that time. The main motivators for obesity in children include junk foods, video games and television; as children's are mostly targets in the media for these advertisements. Parent's role also plays an important part; they are the ones to encourage their children for sports and exercises, and replace the junks with fruits and vegetables. Eating healthy food full of nutrition and vitamins is important in order to stay healthy, but if the problem increases it is best to consult a doctor, dietitian or a nutritionist. Due to the sudden increase in which America's children are becoming obese, it has been stated that "the current generation of American youth might live less healthy and possibly even have shorter lives than their parents (Bernstein)" if nothing is done about the deteriorating health of children. Thesis Statement If an individual ignores obesity at childhood the problem prevails and then to overcome it is the toughest issue; so eating healthy food is important along with the proper diet and a regular exercise. Obesity is one of the leading causes of health problems, which stays present as a person gets older. Obesity used to be an issue in adults, but today, obesity is something that often starts when a person is in their childhood, and their health worsens the older they get. "America must be getting thinner, right Mc Donald's has stopped super-sizing. Coke has launched its 'half the sugar, half the carbs' C2 cola and it seems like every week a new diet book hits the shelves and the best seller list (Dan Crane, 2009). In April 2005 the sesame street recognized the growing crises of childhood obesity in United States and introduced 'healthy habits for life' a segment in their episodes that featured tips on healthy eating and exercise. Health problems that are associated with obesity include diabetes, heart failure, and various kinds of cancer; unfortunately, many of these can lead to an early death. As aforementioned, the media has played a large role in encouraging obesity; due to the increase in how many children are obese, the media has since turned around, discouraging the gorging of junk food products, urging children to eat better and to spend more time participating in physical activity. Being aware of obesity problems, a partnership was formed in 2005 by the American Heart association by the name of Alliance for a Healthier Generation with the help of U.S president Bill Clinton and the Nickelodeons. The purpose of this alliance was to protect the life threatening consequences of unhealthy lifestyle habits. They reached kids through vigorous public awareness campaigns. Speaking of his media company's role in the partnership, Nickelodeon Network resident Herb Scannell said, "We want kids to become personally invested in living strong, healthy lives. And if we do our jobs right, kids will believe that being healthy is cool". (2005) furthermore television networks designed mainly for children, such as Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, have taken it upon themselves to encourage children to live healthier; there are even a few times a year that the networks shut themselves down for a few hours so that children do not feel as obliged to sit around and watch television, but are encouraged to go outside and participate in sports activities with their friends and family. The networks even suggest games that families can play together, since being children and eating healthy begins at home. Fortunately, though, aiding weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is almost as simple as it is to fall prey to obesity. If parents start their children young on good diets and daily exercise, there is less of a chance that they will develop obesity and its many related health problems. Parents tend to play the biggest role in the outcome of their children's health. If they stopped stocking junk food and replaced it with fruits and vegetables, then that is what their children will eat. If their parents limit how much time they watch television or play on the computer, their children will benefit from it by playing active games. The parents need to become more involved in the health of their children if they want them to remain healthy. It is also a good option for them to be more concerned about their own health. It is easier to stop obesity when the child is younger and still growing; it is more difficult if they are older, as they may have already developed additional diseases and health issues. When a child is young and is on a good, healthy diet and participating in physical activities, they can increase their lifespan. They do not have to worry about the risks and consequences of leading an unhealthy lifestyle if they start a healthy one as a child; the longer they hold off living a healthy lifestyle, the more difficult it is to get and maintain good health. The problem had risen to such an extent that the American Academy of Pediatrics called it 'the pediatric epidemic of the new millennium' (Britannica encyclopedia, 2009).Since obesity usually starts when a person is young, it is best to initiate a plan of attack while they are still young, either to prevent obesity or to begin lessening the affects before they get too old, when it is more difficult to reverse the weight gain and health issues. A study research was conducted using diet, exercise or diet plus exercise intervention; people aged 40 were studied who were moderately obese. The results showed that a 15-week diet or diet plus exercise program produces a weight loss of about 11 kg, after one year, respectively (W C Miller1, D M Koceja2 and E J Hamilton, 1996). Healthy food not only makes a person healthier, but also provides him with the nutrients and vitamins that he needs to keep their weight under control. They will be fit and experience more energy than if they were to remain on a sugar-based diet, as, unfortunately, most children are. Fruits and vegetables are usually fat free and contain lots of nutrients When an obese person is older, though it may be harder to control their weight, they can still partake in a healthy diet and exercise plan to lessen their chances of causing further damage to their health. There are many options for a person in this predicament to consider; there are an array of diets that people can go on, from Atkins to Weight Watchers, both of which monitor the type and amount of food that is eaten. Different surgeries and medical procedures are available for those that qualify, such as the Lap Band and tummy tucks. These diets and surgeries must also be coupled with exercise if the person wants to keep the weight off; they also need to continue with a healthy eating regimen. While these procedures can work, even though the outcome varies with each person, they are also fairly expensive; in some cases, weight loss surgery might be covered under health insurance, such as when a person is too obese to apply themselves to any exercise routine, though this is not often available. For some people, like those with fast metabolisms, gaining weight is sometimes not an issue, so they choose to eat unhealthily, thinking that it won't affect. They may not gain weight, but they can still get the same symptoms that others might have when they are eating too much of the wrong stuff. Some of these symptoms include, but are not limited to, fatigue, stress, insomnia, and high cholesterol ("Later life"). These can further lead to the same health issues that obese people face, like diabetes and heart disease, so they must also be aware of what they are putting into their body and how they are treating it. The cheap and easy way to get and maintain a healthy weight - and, in turn, increase the lifespan - would be to monitor what is eaten and to increase the amount of exercise ("Destination"). Though this does not always work and some people may need to seek further help, it is usually a method with pleasing and long-lasting effects. Each person is different when it comes to keeping a healthy weight and living a lifestyle that compliments that weight, so each individual needs to find out what is best for them and stick to that plan. Consulting a doctor or a nutritionist, especially before beginning a diet, is a surefire way to make sure that the diet plan is appropriate for that person and will not cause further harm. Everyone will react differently to the various diets, and some might benefit from a plan that differs from others. Using a scale such as the Body Mass Index chart can determine whether weight is in comparison to their height and age (Miller). A healthy lifestyle and a longer lifespan starts with childhood; the more they are subjected to a healthy diet, the more chance they have at avoiding potentially life-threatening diseases and conditions. It is best to start children off on a good diet that they can later benefit from. They will be getting the nutrients and vitamins they need early on, so it will show in good health when they are adults. Adults also have the chance to change their health by eating better and exercising more Conclusion Looking at the present scenario, obesity is an increasing problem. Though its awareness and remedies are on the hot list still the problem exists. Not only US but mostly all the countries around the globe are effected. Obesity used to be an issue in adults, but not these days, it is something that starts when a person is in their childhood and as they grow older their health worsens. Since obesity usually starts when a person is young, it is best to initiate a plan of attack while they are still young, either to prevent obesity or to begin lessening the affects before they get too old, after which it is more difficult to reverse the weight gain and health issues. The society plays an important part in reducing the obesity problem by launching various programs for the people to benefit with. There are various sources available to help out and if needed one has to consult a dietitian or a doctor to be on the right track. Obesity has many reasons but the healthier diet one eats and the more exercise one does helps in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and limiting problems of obesity. The main need is to replace junks with fresh foods and vegetable. Plan a routine for sports daily and exercise regularly. Reference list Confronting Childhood Obesity, Encyclopedia Britannica 2009, Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 02 Apr. 2009, www.britannica.com International journal of obesity, received 23 October 1996, revised 8 April 1996, accepted June 1997, volume 21, number 10, pages 941-947. http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v21/n10/abs/0800499a.html Women's fitness.net, destination weight loss, 1999-2008, http://www.womenfitness.net/weightloss.htm Read More